Bowers & Wilkins Formation Wedge  Speaker Review

Reviewed Feb 17, 2023 at 12:22pm
Writing modified Oct 17, 2023 at 12:17pm
Tested using Methodology v0.8 
Bowers & Wilkins Formation Wedge

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The Bowers & Wilkins Formation Wedge is a premium home speaker that stands out from the crowd thanks to its unique design. Its elliptical shape calls to mind the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin 2021, though, unlike the Zeppelin, this speaker doesn't offer built-in voice assistant support. This stylish device is an excellent addition to your home decor, and its support for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Apple AirPlay 2 technology makes it easy to wirelessly stream audio from your phone or other mobile devices.

Our Verdict

0.0
Music 

The Bowers & Wilkins Wedge is satisfactory for music. Out of the box, it has decent frequency response accuracy, especially in the mids, where most voices and instruments reproduce. As a result, it's suitable for listening to lots of different music genres. It gets loud, too, and its bass and treble adjustments let you switch up its sound. It lacks a full graphic EQ to adjust its output across the range.

Pros
  • Bass and treble adjustments.
  • Gets loud.
Cons
  • No graphic EQ.
  • Lackluster companion app.
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Videos/Movies 

The Bowers & Wilkins Wedge isn't intended for watching movies, but if you want to watch videos through a paired smartphone, it can get the job done. Dialogue is clear, and there's a little boom in the bass for action-packed scenes. There's very little latency over Apple AirPlay, too, so you don't have to worry about lip-synching issues.

Pros
  • Gets loud.
  • Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Apple AirPlay compatibility.
Cons
  • No graphic EQ.
  • Lackluster companion app.
0.0
Podcasts 

The Bowers & Wilkins Wedge is fair for podcasts. Dialogue is clearly reproduced, meaning you can follow along with your favorite shows with ease. The speaker gets loud and lets you wirelessly stream from your phone over Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Apple AirPlay. Its wired-only design means you can't easily bring it with you from room to room as you listen.

Pros
  • Gets loud.
  • Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Apple AirPlay compatibility.
Cons
  • Lackluster companion app.
  • Wired-only design.
0.0
Voice Assistant 

This speaker doesn't support voice assistants.

0.0
Outdoors 

The Bowers & Wilkins Wedge is a wired-only device that isn't meant for outdoor use.

  • 0.0
    Music
  • 0.0
    Videos/Movies
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    Podcasts
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    Voice Assistant
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    Outdoors
  • Changelog

    1.  Updated Oct 17, 2023: Added market comparison for the Bluesound PULSE 2i in the Dynamics box.
    2.  Updated Aug 21, 2023: Updated the Portability picture for greater clarity and consistency between reviews.
    3.  Updated Feb 17, 2023: Review published.
    4.  Updated Feb 15, 2023: Early access published.

    Check Price

    Differences Between Sizes And Variants

    The Bowers & Wilkins Formation Wedge is available in either Black or Silver color variants. We tested the Black variant, and you can see the label for our model here. However, we expect the Silver version to perform similarly.

    If you come across another version of this speaker, let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.

    Popular Speaker Comparisons

    The Bowers & Wilkins Wedge is a unique-looking home speaker that's designed to stand out when placed among your home decor. It offers impressive audio quality, with an adjustable EQ available in its companion app. Its high-end pricing can be limiting for many, and compared to other home speakers, it lacks built-in voice assistant support.

    You can also check out the best home speakers, the best Bluetooth speakers, and the best Bluetooth speakers for bass.

    Denon Home 350

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    The Denon Home 350 is better for home use than the Bowers & Wilkins Formation Wedge. Both are stylish wired-only speakers with sleek designs, though the Bowers & Wilkins will stand out more in your home decor. That said, it can't reproduce as much low-bass as the Denon and lacks built-in voice assistant support. Overall, the Denon is the more versatile choice.

    Sonos Five

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    The Sonos Five is better than the Bowers & Wilkins Formation Wedge. Both of these wired home speakers have high-end price tags, and while the Bowers & Wilkins has a stand-out design, the Sonos is more likely to blend into your home decor. When it comes to sound, the Sonos brings more low-bass, too. However, it doesn't offer Bluetooth connectivity like the Bowers & Wilkins.

    Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin 2021

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    The Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin 2021 and the Bowers & Wilkins Formation Wedge are both high-end home speakers with unique designs. Depending on your style, you may prefer one to the other. That said, only the Zeppelin offers built-in voice assistant support. It performs a little better at max volume, so you notice less compression in the mix.

    Devialet Mania

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    The Devialet Mania and the Bowers & Wilkins Formation Wedge are both very high-end speakers. They each have stylish designs and, depending on your preferences, you may like one more than the other. The Devialet is battery-operated, so it's much more portable, and its IPX4 rating for water resistance makes it more suitable for outdoor use. Unlike the Bowers & Wilkins, it has built-in voice assistant support.

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    Test Results

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    RATINGS
    Category:
    All
    Design
    Style
    RGB LightsLockedLocked

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    0.0
    Portability
    Volume
    LockedLock in³ (Lock cm³)
    Weight
    LockedLock lbs (Lock kg)
    Power Source
    LockedLocked
    One-Hand Carry
    LockedLocked

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    0.0
    Build Quality
    Material Quality
    LockedLocked
    Water Resistance
    LockedLocked
    Dust Resistance
    LockedLocked
    Impact Resistance
    LockedLocked
    Floats In Water
    LockedLocked

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    0.0
    Controls
    Ease Of Use
    LockedLocked
    Feedback
    LockedLocked
    Music Play/Pause
    LockedLocked
    Call Answer/End
    LockedLocked
    Volume Up/Down
    LockedLocked
    Track Next/Previous
    LockedLocked
    Microphone On/Off
    LockedLocked
    Additional Controls
    LockedLocked

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    In The Box

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    Sound
    0.0
    Frequency Response Accuracy
    Slope
    LockedLock
    Std. Err.
    LockedLock dB
    Low-Frequency Extension
    LockedLock Hz
    High-Frequency Extension
    LockedLock kHz

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    Raw Frequency Response
    Binaural Recording @ 1m
    JOIN NOWto hear audio samples
    Binaural Recording @ 2m
    JOIN NOWto hear audio samples
    0.0
    Soundstage
    Directivity Index
    LockedLock dB
    Stereo
    LockedLocked

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    0.0
    Dynamics
    SPL @ Max Volume
    LockedLock dB SPL
    DRC @ Max Volume
    LockedLock dB

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    Active Features
    0.0
    Battery
    Battery Life
    LockedN/A
    Charge Time
    LockedN/A
    Power Saving
    LockedLocked
    Charging Port
    LockedLocked
    Battery Powered
    LockedNo
    0.0
    Voice Assistant
    Alexa
    LockedLocked
    Google Assistant
    LockedLocked
    Speakerphone
    LockedNo
    Siri
    LockedLocked
    Voice Assistant
    LockedNo
    Voice Activation
    LockedLocked
    Microphone Mute
    LockedLocked
    Far-Field Performance
    LockedLocked
    Ambient Noise Performance
    LockedLocked

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    0.0
    App
    App Name
    LockedLocked
    iOS
    LockedLocked
    Android
    LockedLocked
    EQ
    LockedLocked
    Stereo Pair Mode
    LockedLocked
    Party Mode
    LockedLocked
    Multi-Room
    LockedLocked

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    Connectivity
    Wired
    Aux Input
    LockedLocked
    USB Audio
    LockedLocked
    Other Ports
    LockedLocked

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    0.0
    Bluetooth
    Bluetooth
    LockedYes
    Bluetooth Version
    LockedLocked
    Bluetooth iOS Latency
    LockedLock ms
    Bluetooth Android Latency
    LockedLock ms
    Bluetooth Range
    LockedLock ft (Lock m)
    Multi-Device Pairing
    LockedLocked

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    0.0
    Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi Version
    LockedLocked
    Wi-Fi Frequency Band
    LockedLocked
    Wi-Fi
    LockedYes
    Apple AirPlay
    LockedLocked
    AirPlay Latency
    LockedLock ms
    Google Chromecast
    LockedLocked
    Chromecast Latency
    LockedN/A

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